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While yesterday’s election caused me some anxiety, it was additionally topped with worry about my ankle, as the date coincided with my one-month check-up. I’m four weeks into my platelet rich plasma therapy on my torn ankle tendon. Results can’t be certain for two months, and I’ve got another four weeks to go, but I’m no longer feeling too hopeful that this procedure will work for me. Fortunately (unfortunately) for me, I’m unemployed, so I can give my ankle all the rest it needs and then some! However, I honestly feel that there has been no improvement, and if possible, my ankle might be worse. It has been in a state of constant, mild pain for the last month, and yesterday, my doctor ordered me back into my dreaded boot cast.

So, this is happening again.

I’m not looking forward to the dependency that the wearing of this boot creates, but I’ve got to say, I felt instant relief once it was strapped securely to my lower leg. Last night, for the first time in weeks, I fell asleep pain-free and was able to lay my foot in any position without fear of discomfort. I have a love-hate relationship with this boot, and I’m currently in the honeymoon stage. I’m sure these feelings will grow cold in the not so distant future, and I’d like to make a list of the positives behind being stuck in a boot for weeks, so I have something to look back on to feel better about my situation. So here they are:

Reasons Why Being Stuck in a Boot is Awesome:

My sock laundry is cut in half.

I can pretend to be Lady Sybil Crawley as my smart and handsome Branson (Greg) chauffeurs me around town.

I have a valid reason for not showering everyday.

My toes are always warm.

I can wear my one pair of skinny jeans as many days in a row as I want.

The bowls on the top shelf are now within my standing reach.

Confined to my apartment, I can watch hours of television guilt free.

I’m pretty sure I could crack a zombie’s skull with this thing if it came down to it.

If you have any other positives behind wearing a boot cast, feel free to share them with me!

I was but a mere eight years old. You couldn’t have been much older. It was a rare moment in which I needed to use the restroom during the middle of class. I walked quickly and quietly to the bathrooms by the playground, taking note of the satisfying clomping sounds my saddle shoes were making against the pavement. My restroom pass was clutched tightly in my hands. It felt forbidden being out on school grounds when no one else was around. I entered the empty bathroom; the clinking of my wooden pass being set on the ceramic sink seemed to echo off the walls. Once in my stall, I lifted the edges of my lightweight, red, cotton dress so that none of the precious material would touch the surface of the toilet as I took care of my business. That’s when I heard you enter the stall next to me. Instead of the usual sounds of another girl adjusting her clothes in preparation to sit, I heard the toilet seat moving and groaning under the weight of your feet. I froze in horror. “Please. Please don’t let a girl be looking down on me.” I slowly shifted my eyes up and to the left. There you were. Bright white teeth smiling down on me, one arm tucked over the stall barrier to keep you steady. I quickly unclenched my hands from my dress, pulling the red material into a dome of coverage around my bottom and knees. You began to make small talk with me, as if having a conversation while looking down on someone peeing was an everyday occurrence. Being the kind and passive person I was, I answered whatever questions you threw at me, all the while patiently waiting for you to step off your toilet so I could wipe and be far, far away from you. I don’t remember how long you stood there, but you finally did step down from your toilet. As you did, I bolted from my stall, deciding to forgo washing my hands, as the sandy textured pink soap would take far too long to rinse off, and I wasn’t willing to have an encounter with you again. All the way into my high school years, I could not use a public restroom comfortably, and would avoid school restrooms as much as humanely possible. On the rare occasions I would use a public restroom, I found myself constantly scanning the stall barriers above me while completing my business as quickly as I could. Fortunately, college dorm living forced me to overcome my fear. It was replaced with a sense of camaraderie, as I grew to learn that conversations in restrooms were common and acceptable behind the closed doors of stalls. I sincerely hope that I was your only victim, but if not, I hope the others have found a way to move on. You never knew how much you scarred me, but I forgive you.

I just won my first blog award from Jen over at Jeneral Insanity! I feel like a real blogger now, so thank you! Jen started stalking following me a month ago today (awww, it’s our stalk-iversary) and I did the same. How could I not follow someone who enjoys a good booger story and would spend hours talking zombie with me if given the chance? Her blog is full of random, hilarious accounts of her life ranging from water gun fights in the mall with her brother to the epic battle of putting children to bed. Plus, she usually has a ton of self-drawn visual aids that are awesome! Definitely go check her out.

Anyway, onto my award! (Yippee!) I was granted the Liebster Award. It originated in Germany ‘cause I guess Germans used to have the best blogs or something, but in any case, it’s awarded to those of us newish bloggers who have less than 200 followers. (Special thanks to the five of you who read this blog for allowing me to qualify for this award.) Here it is in all it’s pink and heart filled glory:

I did some research on this award (namely, looking up the word “Liebster”) and I was totally, literally, born to get this! Liebster can be translated to “sweetheart” and wouldn’t you know, my last name, Schatz, also means “sweetheart!” My quarter German self is quite proud.

Now, there are conflicting rules about this here award. The original rules are clean and simple, then as Jen so perfectly put it, “a superstitious 11 year old girl [got] involved somewhere down the line.”

Original(ish) Rules For The Liebster Award:

1. You must thank the person who gave you this award.

2. You must display the Liebster heart on your blog.

3. You should nominate 3 to 5 up-and-coming blogs (with less than 200 subscribers)

The (now-ish) rules for The Liebster Award:

▪ Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

▪ Answer the questions the person giving the award has sent you.

▪ Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to.

▪ Choose 11 people to award and send them the link to your post. Go to their page and tell them.

No tag backs.

So, basically, I’m going to do everything except choose 11 people to award. I’ll stick with the 3-5 guideline (mostly because I’m totally unpopular and can barely name 11 real life friends let alone blogging friends.)

Eleven Things About Me:

I always thought I was half Mexican/half German, until common sense kicked in a few years ago when my brother and I realized our Grandma’s maiden name is English; leaving us only a quarter German…but I still claim half most of the time. My favorite color is purple. I can’t smell. I’m not a huge fan of chocolate. I love Mountain Dew. My favorite Disney princess is Aurora. I still used to look for Smurfs in my backyard. I’ve run a marathon. I want to hike half-dome but seriously think I might die doing it, so I don’t avidly pursue it. I love miniature anything! Earrings are my favorite jewelry items.

1. What is the first thing you would do in the event of a Zombie Apocolypse?

Change my clothes since they’ll probably be what I’ll be wearing for the rest of my human life (and maybe during my zombie life assuming I don’t get completely eaten). Specifically, I’d want to make sure I have on a good pair of running shoes. Then I want to be wearing a lightweight, versatile outfit that will keep me warm when the temperatures drop, but cool in the summer months. Living in Southern California, that basically means a pair of jeans, and a t-shirt, but maybe I should invest in those khaki pants that can be zippered off into shorts?

2. If you were stranded on an island and could only take 3 things with you, what would they be?

I was just reading the Survivor bios and scoffing at many of their “3 things” lists, but now that I’m asked to answer the same question, I guess my list is pretty boring too: allergy pills, journal with pen (I’m counting that as one item), and my childhood teddy bear, Radar.

3. What would you do if I showed up at your house in a chicken suit with a potato gun and asked if you could come out to play?

I’d run into my bedroom, sort through mine and my boyfriend’s Nerf gun arsenal to find the biggest one, throw on the dorky safety glasses that came with one of our guns, and challenge you to a duel.

4. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be, and why? (Or not why. Some things are self-explanatory.)

As nice as it would be to change some of my physical attributes, at age 31, I’ve kinda become accustomed to my looks and would rather change something more sensible. That said, I’d take away my allergies. I know this can be done through shots, and I started the process a year ago, but you kinda need insurance to keep it going, and it takes 4 years anyway, so if I could make them gone in an instant, I’m all about that! Kittens here I come!

5. If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be, and why?

I’d take away all the injustices. Big or small, I’d want them all gone. I know that’s vague, but I’m a dreamer, so if you’re wondering if something is an injustice, yes, yes it is, and I’d like it gone.

6. What’s your favorite thing about writing a blog?

It’s that I get to speak up and tell my stories. I’m such an introvert in person. Even when I’m around people I’m comfortable with, I prefer to sit back and listen than have any attention drawn to me. This is my way of being in the spotlight without feeling awkward or having any of those social insecurities that pop up whenever I open my mouth around a group of people.

7. What is your favorite food?

Bean and cheese burrito. I could eat those forever.

8. If you had one super power, what would it be?

I kept going back and forth with this one, but I think I’m settled with moving objects with my mind. Perfect for the lazy in me, but also a great power to prank people with. Plus, I have no upper body strength whatsoever, so it’d come in handy when moving or carrying heavy objects.

9. Do you reheat leftover pizza, or eat it cold?

Both. If I’m doing a drive-by of my fridge, I’ll just pull out a slice and start munching on it cold. But if I’m about to sit down to a meal of leftover pizza, I’ll usually heat it up.

10. If I asked you really nicely and offered you my favorite pen, would you give me your pants?

Hmmm, I am a sucker for pens. I’d say yes, as long as I wasn’t wearing my Emergency Underwear. (You girls know the kind. The ones that hang unattractively loose off your butt with holes in every conceivable location that you keep stashed in a crumpled bunch at the back of your drawer for, well, emergencies.)

11. Coming up with 11 random questions is hard. If you were me, what would you ask you? Please do that here and then answer it.

Seeing as I am about to be you and having to come up with 11 questions of my own, I will come up with one, answer it, and then use it on my upcoming victims awardees. And that question would be: Toilet paper hanging over or under? My answer: Over.

Questions for my Liebster winners:

If you had to choose one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

In the case of a zombie apocalypse, if one of the people most dear to you turned into a zombie, would you put them out of their misery, lock them up in hopes for a cure, or set them free to feed on brains? (Or if you have another alternative, what would you do?)

When living with a spouse or partner, what are your thoughts about using the restroom with the door open?

Why did you start your blog?

Who is your favorite super hero?

If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?

What are your feelings on Hot Cheetos and Takis?

Toilet paper hanging over or under?

Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

If you could leave today and go anywhere in the world for a week-long trip, where would you go? (money and life won’t get in your way, so dream as big as you’d like)

Mac or PC and why?

And now for my Liebster Award winners:

The Cat Lady Sings – She’s an artist in every way! Whether it is through writing, painting, or music, this girl is talented! She loves to travel and share her stories about her adventures, while being sure to sprinkle in cute pictures of her cat. She’s great about updating on a regular basis, so you’ll become hooked immediately.

Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine – She’s a mommy keepin’ it real! She speaks candidly about pronto poops, wiping her boogers on the side of the bed (something we bonded over), and boob grabbing in church. Plus, she has this cool thing on Tuesdays where you can hilariously caption her home photos.

From The House of Cole – Currently living in Germany, I think this award was meant for her as well. She’s a writer, beginning a 30-day challenge to complete 50,000 words of her current novel. Her blog writing is so beautifully honest and descriptive, that you’ll instantly fall in love.

Congratulations to Natalie and Lindsey!! Their urinating worries are over, as they just won brand new pStyles!

Natalie, promise me you’ll pee on a tree during your next hike. I’ve yet to do that.

Lindsey, you’ll live every woman’s fantasy by writing your name in the snow this winter! Pictures are welcome!

I will be contacting the two of you through the emails provided to find out what color you’d like and to get your addresses, so be on the lookout for an email from me today.

For those of you who didn’t win, but feel you can’t live without a pStyle, you can purchase one for $10 through me by clicking on the PayPal button below. (Or if you know me personally, and want to work out an exchange of cash for goods on a dark corner under a broken street lamp, just give me a call or send me a message, and we’ll work something out.) Thank you to all those who participated; it was fun!

Also, for those of you new to my blog and wondering what the pStyle is all about, you can read my review HERE. There’s also a PayPal button there to buy one if you decide you want to.

With the return of The Walking Dead, I can’t help but constantly have zombie on my mind. I’ve already mused on my blog about what sort of zombie I’d become, yet still, the other day, I was thinking about possible scenarios that might play out in the case that I actually live through most of the zombie apocalypse.

Me: If we live through the zombie apocalypse, and it reaches a point where we are completely surrounded with no way out, I think we should just turn ourselves into zombies.

Greg: I like how this conversation started with, “If we live through the zombie apocalypse…”

Me: I know I’ve told you before to just shoot me, but now I have a better plan.

Greg: (smiles amusingly while getting up and walking into the kitchen)

Me: (follows him into the kitchen) Let’s say our apartment is boarded up, with zombies trying to break in. We could just stick our arms out, get bitten, and wait to be zombified. That way, by the time they get in, they won’t be able to eat us because we’ll already have turned.

Greg: Being you, if you stuck your arm out, it would just get torn off.

Me: True. So maybe I can just stick a finger out…

Greg: …to get bit off.

Me: Or better yet! When their arms squeeze through one of the cracks in the boards, we can stick our arms just within their reach so that they can only scratch us! Then we just sit back, and wait to turn into zombies.

Greg: Yeah, and be stuck in our apartment not eating brains.

Me: Exactly! So when they come out with the cure, we’ll never have ingested humans.

Greg: When the CDC finally busts into our apartment, they’ll find two zombies sitting down playing video games.

That’s why I love him. He might tease at first, but at the end of the day, he’ll talk real zombie strategy with me.

So, remember when I went on and on about my new found ability to stand and pee using the pStyle? If not, you should go read my awesome reviewHERE, and join 112 others in viewing my actual urine (don’t worry; you won’t automatically see my pee by clicking on that link…you’ll get to make that choice on your own once you’re there…I’m not totally gross.)

Well, the founder of the company that promotes the pStyle, read my review, loved it, and gave me TWO free pStyle’s to give away on my blog! I’ve been itching to give these away for a while now, so I’m glad things are finally in place to allow me to do so. ::cough:: Google killed my blog ::cough:: I made the time consuming (but worth it) transfer over to WordPress ::cough::

Colors to choose from if you win: Blue, Clear, Pink, Purple, Green, or Orange

So without further ado, here are the giveaway instructions!

1. Leave a comment on my blog telling me where you’re most looking forward to peeing while using your pStyle. Or if you are trying to win this for someone else, tell me why you feel that person really needs a pStyle and what their reaction will be upon receiving it.

2. Make sure you leave a working email in the comments form so that I can contact you if you win. Don’t worry, your email will only be viewable to me, and I will only use it to contact you if you are a winner.

3. The last day to leave comments will be this Friday, October 26th, at 3:00pm PST. After the 3pm PST cut-off, I will do a random drawing of two names. Check back at www.yeahimanerd.com on October 26th after 3 pm PST to see if you are a winner! (FYI, you’re all winners in my eyes, but only two of you can win a pStyle from me.)

I share with you today, Erica’s Cold Sore Battle Method!!! It worked for me, and hopefully it will work for you, too. Just follow my three easy steps!

Erica’s Cold Sore Battle Method

Materials:

Washcloth

Ice

L-Lysine

Abreva

Step 1:

Catch it early! As soon as you feel the little bugger itching on your lip, or see the bubble beginning to take form, go ahead and pop 2,000 mg of L-Lysine into your mouth (for me, that was 4 pills). Continue to take these little treasure pills throughout the day (for two days) by taking 500 mg (or more) every hour. You can take up to 9,000 mg a day safely, though the most I’ve ever taken was 7,000 mg.

This is the brand I bought from Target.

Step 2:

Grab a washcloth, fold it in half, wrap an ice cube in it, but leave a bit of the ice peeking out. (don’t be lazy and use an easy-to-reach papertowel, ‘cause the ice will quickly melt right through and drip all over you) Apply this ice to the cold sore site until the entire ice cube has melted away. This will usually take 20-30 minutes. If you’re pressed for time, do it for at least 10 minutes as many times as you can throughout the day. I applied a full ice cube every hour for the next two days. (In all honesty, I would miss a few hours here and there, so on average, I used 4 or 5 ice cubes a day, but if you can remember to do it every hour, do it.)

Step 3:

As soon as your lip has been iced, liberally apply Abreva to the site. If you’re not going out in public, shamelessly whiten that area up and let the medicine do its trick. If you have to interact with people, it’s cool to just put on a thin layer that will blend in to your lip. I not only applied Abreva after every icing, but also anytime I started feeling my lip itch, or anytime I “remembered” I had a cold sore. I don’t think there is such a thing as too much Abreva.

Thank you abreva.com for this picture. I used up all mine and threw out the bottle a few days ago and haven’t restocked (which I usually do as soon as possible because cold sores are sneaky and I want to be prepared) Also, I used this pump style bottle because at the time of purchase, it was all that was available. However, they also sell it in a small tube (like, smaller than your pinky finger, small). I recommend that one. The pump ends up squirting WAY too much lotion out, that you end up wiping off your finger and throwing away. This stuff is too expensive to be throwing away like that. But trust me, the $13 you spend on that miniscule tube of glory is worth every cent!

So that’s how I did it! I understand that certain jobs disallow the opportunity to follow this completely throughout the day (I was a teacher, so trust me, I know). However, even doing as much of it as you can, really does minimize the symptoms. Currently being unemployed and confined to my couch all day to heal my ankle, I was able to give my system a full-fledged chance, and it worked like a charm! Good luck, and feel free to share your own cold sore busting tips in the comments!